Mustard Seed
The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. We probably associate mustard as a spicy condiment, or if we are conditioned by years of sermons, the smallest becoming mighty. Small seed, big growth. As we encountered the story of new wine and old wineskins last week, there are three versions of this parable (Mark 4:30-32, Matthew 13:31-32, Luke 13:18-19). A small seed produces an unruly shrub/weed. The lesson may be that small actions grow over time. Patience may be necessary (not easy in our microwave-instant world). We like the tall, stately, and large in most things in life. What is bigger is not really better after all? What kind of movement is barely noticeable, then is a wild shrub growing everywhere? Would you join a movement of small seeds growing to unruly shrubs?